The answer is the on-premises data gateway. This component is required because Power BI, as a cloud service, cannot directly access on-premises SQL Server databases due to network boundaries; the gateway acts as a secure bridge, transmitting data from the on-premises source to the Power BI service for scheduled refreshes without opening inbound firewall ports. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this concept tests your understanding of hybrid connectivity patterns—specifically how cloud analytics tools interact with on-premises data sources. A common trap is confusing the gateway with Azure Data Factory’s self-hosted integration runtime, but remember: for Power BI scheduled refresh of on-premises data, the on-premises data gateway is the dedicated tool. Memory tip: think of the gateway as a “secure tunnel” that lets Power BI reach your local SQL Server without exposing it to the internet.
DP-900 Describe an analytics workload on Azure Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe an analytics workload on azure. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A data analyst uses Power BI to create a report that combines data from Azure Synapse Analytics and an on-premises SQL Server database. The on-premises data must be refreshed every hour. Which component is required to connect to the on-premises data source?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
On-premises data gateway
The on-premises data gateway is required to securely connect Power BI to on-premises SQL Server databases for scheduled refreshes. It acts as a bridge, transmitting data from the on-premises source to the Power BI service without opening inbound firewall ports. This component is specifically designed for self-service analytics scenarios where cloud services need to access on-premises data sources.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Azure VPN Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Azure VPNGateway connects on-premises networks to Azure via VPN, but Power BI needs a data gateway for data source connectivity.
✓
On-premises data gateway
Why this is correct
The on-premises data gateway acts as a bridge between Power BI and on-premises data sources, allowing scheduled refreshes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure ExpressRoute
Why it's wrong here
ExpressRoute provides a private connection to Azure, but it does not enable Power BI to connect to on-premises data sources.
✗
Azure Data Factory
Why it's wrong here
Azure Data Factory can copy data from on-premises to Azure, but Power BI needs a gateway for direct connectivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Data Factory's self-hosted integration runtime with the Power BI on-premises data gateway, but Power BI requires its own dedicated gateway component for scheduled refreshes, not Data Factory.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The on-premises data gateway uses a secure outbound connection from the on-premises network to Azure Service Bus, which eliminates the need to open firewall ports. During a scheduled refresh, the Power BI service sends a request to the gateway, which then queries the on-premises SQL Server using native TDS protocol, compresses the result set, and sends it back to the Power BI service over HTTPS. This architecture ensures that data never flows through the public internet without encryption and that the gateway can handle multiple data sources simultaneously.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-900 question in full detail.
Describe an analytics workload on Azure — This question tests Describe an analytics workload on Azure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: On-premises data gateway — The on-premises data gateway is required to securely connect Power BI to on-premises SQL Server databases for scheduled refreshes. It acts as a bridge, transmitting data from the on-premises source to the Power BI service without opening inbound firewall ports. This component is specifically designed for self-service analytics scenarios where cloud services need to access on-premises data sources.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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